Folding leg support for furniture



Aug. T2, 1952 A. INPYN 2,606,802

FOLDING LEG SUPPORT FOR FURNITURE Filed Nov. 3, 1950 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12Z 1952 Y, EQLMNGMLEG SUPPORT Fon FUnNrrUnE y xAnthonyInpyn, Bronx,` N. Y. v y

Application November 3, 19505,' Serial'No. 193,874:l

This invention relates to improvements in supporting members and, more particularly, to supporting legs of the folding type for tables, work benches, beds and the like. n

The present invention offers advantages over previously proposed folding legs in that it possessesexeeptional strength andA durabilityand canbe used for the Support of heavy objects 2 claims. (c1. siieelV f WithoutV wobbling or danger of collapse. 1n addil tion, the legs can be quickly folded back against the underside of the object, thus supported when it isto be stored or transported. They partscan be leasily and cheaply made and assembled, and either sold as a unit or as applied to the object to be supported. Moreover, the parts can be just as simply disassembled and rep-laced if the need should ever arise.

These and other features of the invention will be fully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing two of the supporting members applied to the underside of a table, one in folded position and the other in upright position.

Fig. 2 is a front view partly in section of one of the supporting members in folded position.

Fig. 3 is a Viewv similar to that in Fig. 2, but showing the parts as adjusted for upright or supporting position.

Referring to the drawings, the present invention is preferably made in two parts, the one an elongated supporting leg member I, the other a leg holder 2 which serves to secure the leg niember to the underside of the object to be supported, such as, for purposes of illustration, the table X shown in Fig. l. The leg I can be made of any suitable material depending on the weight and strength desired or required, but for purposes of economy it may be made of ordinary iron or aluminum piping. The upper extremity of the leg member I is provided with two threaded portions 3 and 4 of approximately equal length separated by a non-threaded portion 5, and the leg I is further provided with a collar E just below the lower threaded portion il. If ordinary pipe stock is employed, the upper extremity above the collar 6 can be threaded in a single operation and the threads turned down on a lathe to at least the minor diameter to form the non-thread is provided with a flange l and secured to the r ings.

,underside ofthe table Xk by means of sere-wszor bolts. The holder is provided at its upper'and lower ends with two internallythreaded portions 8 and e of approximately equal length, separated by a non-threaded portion Ii), the., diameter of which should be at least asgreat as the major diameter ofthe externally ythreaded portionsS and d' of the leg I. For economy only, the holder 2 may be made-from an ordinary internally threaded. pipe connecting section, and the nonthreaded portion I@ formed by internal boring.

The lower end of the holder 2 is provided with an elongated open-end slot extending completely through the threaded portion 9 and part of the non-threadedporton I, as shown inthe draw- For reasons which will be later apparent, the width of the slot, formed by the walls 2a of the holder, should be slightly greater than the diameter` of the non-threaded portion 5 of the leg l, but less than the major diameter of the threaded portions 3 and 4.

The holder 2 should be applied to the underside of the object to be supported in such a way so that the slotted side will face the direction that the leg is to be folded. The leg I may be initially assembledto the holder eitherbefore or after the holder is secured to the underside of the object to be supported by applying the upper end of the leg to the lower end of the holder and screwing the threaded portion 3 of the leg past the threaded portion 9 of the holder. The leg is thus loosely held within the holder and may be folded back against the object to be supported to the position indicated by the reference numeral I', as shown in Fig. 1, and held thereto by any suitable means, such as the clasp Y. In folding, the non-threaded portion 5 of the leg will fully enter the open-end slot formed by the walls 2a, but the leg will still be prevented from separation from the holder since the width of the slot (i. e., the distance between the opposing walls 2a) is less than the major diameter of the threaded portion 3 of the leg.

When the leg is to be adjusted to upstanding or supporting position, the non-threaded portion 5 of the leg is withdrawn from the slot through the open end thereof and pivotally adjusted to the vertical position. The upper threads 3 of the leg are then screwed into engagement with the upper threads 3 of the holder, and thelower threads 4 likewise threadably coupled with the lower threads 9 of the holder until limited by the contact of the collar of the leg With the lower end of the holder. The leg is thus adjusted to supporting position, as shown in Fig. 3.

It should be understood that the present invention has been shown in only a single form and by way of example, but obviously, many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. For example, instead of the use of ordinary pipe stock for economy, the design of the parts may be greatly improved for the sake of appearance. Similarly, with some loss in the ease of assembling, the threaded portion 3 of the leg may be replaced by a flange, the threads 9 of the holder eliminated, or the side Walls 2a. ofthe slot replaced by rails. Also, since the threads 3, 8 of the leg and holder, respectively, would afford adequate support, the threads 4 of the leg could be eliminated.

It is to be understood, therefore, that the in- Y vention is not limited to any specific form or em- `said holder being provided with two sets of internal threads separated by a non-threaded portion adapted for coupling with the threads of the leg, the diameter of said non-threaded p0rtion being at least as great as the major diameter of the externally threadedr portions of the leg and a slot in said holder to permit the folding of the leg against the underside of the supported object when the cooperating sets of threads have been uncoupled.

2. A folding leg support comprising a leg member, a holder for securing said leg member to the object to be supported, said holder having two separate sets of threads separated by a nonthreaded portion, the non-threaded portion having a diameter at least as great as the major diameter of the threads, said leg member having a series of threads at its upper end, which in the upright supporting positions are adapted to be coupled with the upper set of threads of the holder, and a slot formed in the holder to accommodate the leg member when the threads of the leg and holder are uncoupled and the leg is adjusted to folded position.

ANTHONY INPYN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 5 1,260,734 Vawter Mar. 26, 1918 1,342,951 Gagen June 8, 1920 1,539,112 Gloekler May 26, 1925 1,897,449 Trowbridge Feb. 14, 1933 2,053,462 Chaplin Sept. 8, 1936 2,074,981 Converse Mar. 23, 1937 2,496,094 Johnson Jan. 31, 1950 2,532,902 Greenway Dec. 5, 1950 

